Embargoed until 9:00am, Thursday 13 August.
WHAT: Healthy Futures will hold a press conference with Dr Sophie Scamps and Dr Monique Ryan to call on the Federal Government to fund feasibility studies to electrify nine pilot hospitals across every Australian state and territory.
WHEN: 9am, Thursday 13 August.
WHERE: Mural Hall, Parliament House.
WHO:
Dr Harry Jennens, Co-Founder of Healthy Futures
Dr Simon Judkins, Emergency Physician and Director of Emergency at Echuca Hospital and Member of AMA Public Health Committee
Catelyn Richards, Federal Assistant Secretary of the Australian Midwifery and Nursing Federation
Dr Monique Ryan MP
Dr Sophie Scamps MP
Engineers from Lucid Consulting, who co-authored the report, will also be available to answer any questions. In attendance will be representatives from the Australian Medical Association, Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Royal Australasian Colleges of Surgeons, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Australian College of Emergency Medicine, the Australian Federation of Medical Women, Lung Foundation Australia, Doctors for the Environment Australia and the Climate and Health Alliance.
BACKGROUND:
Representatives from Healthy Futures and health organisations representing over 400,000 Australian healthcare workers are in Canberra on Thursday to meet with key Ministers and MPs and discuss the new report ‘All-Electric Healthy Hospitals: a Cost-Benefit Analysis’.
The report found that electrifying 10% of Australia’s public hospitals each year from 2027 until 2036 would save $59 million per year in hospital energy bills, and lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking nearly 150,000 petrol cars off our roads.
The report found that electrifying Australia’s public hospitals would reduce hospital operational costs and protect hospitals’ value, and can prevent public hospitals from becoming stranded assets.
The All-Electric Healthy Hospitals campaign seeks $1.5 million in funding from the Federal Government to invest in feasibility studies for a nine-hospital electrification pilot program.
About us:
About the All-Electric Healthy Hospitals Pilot Program
Healthy Futures, a grassroots organisation of healthcare workers and community members advocating for action on climate change, is currently co-ordinating a campaign for electrification of Australian public hospitals supported by thirteen health organisations representing over 400,000 healthcare workers. Healthy Futures have proposed a pilot program to electrify nine hospitals across all states and territories to demonstrate cost effectiveness in a range of climatic conditions and for facilities of varying size.
Contact details:
Ursula Alquier on 0474 803 740 or [email protected]